The Ministry of Health is analyzing the results of a study that proposes an increase in cigarette prices as a measure to raise more sales taxes and thus fighting smoking and deadly diseases associated to it.
This research, conducted by the Institute for Clinical and Sanitary Effectiveness (IECS) in Argentina, found that smoking costs Costa Rica ¢ 129 billion a year. However, when it comes to tax collection, it represents only 30% of expenditures related to smoking in the health system.
“A decision has to be made; the Ministry is analyzing the whole report and there will be some actions,” informed Nydia Amador, head of the Impact Assessment Unit from the Ministry Strategic Health Actions.
According to the research, if 10% of the price of cigarettes were increased, 340 deaths, 1,369 heart-disease patients, 145 new cancers patients, 57 cardiovascular accidents (in 10 years) could be prevented.
Smoking accounts for 12% of all deaths in Costa Rica. The most common diseases related to tobacco are:
-Heart diseases
-Strokes
-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
-Pneumonia
-Cancer (mainly lung cancer)
In addition, more actions must be taken to fight against illegal trade.